The Definition of Insanity
Frank Matter, Robert Margolis, fic., 85 min., CH/USA 2004
Co-director Robert Margolis stars as Robert, an actor who may or may not be himself in this intense and often hilarious film about acting, aging and the dark side of ambition.
Blurring the line between fact and fiction, «The Definition of Insanity» was filmed over the course of 18 months, as a documentary crew follows Robert Margolis obsessively from one failed audition to another, recording in raw detail his every humiliation and small triumph as he searches for that elusive perfect role that will catapult his career into the next level. Just when it seems that he will be forced by family and financial pressures to give up everything he has worked for, he meets legendary filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich («The Last Picture Show», «Papermoon»). That encounter changes his life profoundly, but in a very different way than he had anticipated.
«The Definition of Insanity» is a film about big dreams and everyday rituals, humiliating defeats and little triumphs, and the inexplicable optimism, some might call it delusion, that keeps us going.
Festivals
Big Screen Festival, Kunming, China
Freier Film, Aarau, Switzerland, Repetory Screening
Kino Sputnik, Liestal, Switzerland, Repetory Screening
Warsaw Jewish Film Festival, Warsaw, Poland
Kultkino Atelier, Basel, Switzerland, Repetory Screenings
Stadtkino Basel, Basel, Switzerland, Repetory Screenings
Desert Film Society, Palm Springs, CA, USA
Jeonju Citizen Film & Video Festival, South Korea
Davis Film Festival, Davis, CA
Bucharest International Film Festival, Romania
Regal Battery Park, New York – Special Screening
Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater, Washington, D.C. – Repertory Screening
Loews Theatres Mountainside, Mountainside, NJ – Chuck Rose Film Lectures
Loews Theatres Monmouth Mall, Eatontown, NJ – Chuck Rose Film Lectures
Seoul Independent Film Festival, Seoul, South Korea
Santa Fe Film Festival, Santa Fe, NM
Virginia Film Festival, Charlottesville, VA
Boston Jewish Film Festival 2005, Boston, MA
Two Boots Pioneer Theater, New York, NY – Special Screening
Sacramento Film and Music Festival, Sacramento, CA | www.sacfilm.com
Chicago Independent Film Festival, Chicago, IL | www.indiefestchicago.com
Brooklyn International Film Festival, Brooklyn, NY | www.wbff.org
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival, Minneapolis, MN | mnfilmarts.org/mspiff/2005/
Syracuse International Film Festival, Syracuse, NY | www.syrfilmfest.com/
Newport Beach Film Festival, Newport Beach, CA | www.newportbeachfilmfest.com
Bergamo Film Meeting, Bergamo, Italy | www.bergamofilmmeeting.it
Sarasota Film Festival, Sarasota, Florida | www.sarasotafilmfest.com
Swiss American Film Festival, Quad Cinema, New York
Sao Paulo International Film Festival, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Woodstock Film Festival, Woodstock, NY | www.woodstockfilmfestival.com
Long Island International Film Expo, Long Island, NY
Solothurn Film Days, Solothurn, Switzerland
Max Ophuls Film Festival, Saarbrucken, Germany
Awards
Audience Award for Best Feature, Virgina Film Festival 2005, Charlottesville, VA, USA
Jury Prize for Best Feature, Virgina Film Festival 2005, Charlottesville, VA, USA
Best Feature Film, Newport Beach International, Film Festival 2005, USA
Best Directors, Chicago Independent Film Festival 2005, USA
Special Jury Prize, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival 2005, USA
Best Actor: Robert Margolis, Brooklyn International Film Festival 2005, Brooklyn, NY, USA
Best Actor: Robert Margolis, Chicago Independent Film Festival 2005, USA
Rosa Camuna di Bronzo, Audience Award, Bergamo Film Meeting 2005, Bergamo, Italy
Audience Award for Best Feature Film, Swiss American Film Festival, New York, 2004
Best Feature Film – 35mm, L.I. Film Expo, New York, 2004
What the critics say
«Brilliant, audacious indie, has snagged awards wherever it has played…»
Variety, Los Angeles
«… an independent production with a fascinatingly original voice… ironic, unpretentious filmmaking that gets under the skin.»
Der Landbote, Winterthur
«The bitterly funny dialogue, plus Margolis‘ naivete, bullheaded determination, and total lack of responsibility, all add up to a package reminiscent of Robert De Niro’s psychotic stand up from The King of Comedy.»
The Onion, New York-Minneapolis
«Co-director Robert Margolis stars as Robert, an actor who may or may not be himself in this intense and often hilarious film about acting, aging and the dark side of ambition. Expertly blurring the line between fact and fiction, The Definition of Insanity was filmed over the course of 18 months, as a documentary crew follows Margolis obsessively from one failed audition to another, recording in raw detail his every humiliation and small triumph as he searches for that elusive perfect role that will catapult his career into the next level. Margolis, with his vaunting optimism leaping always one step ahead of a very real desperation, is riveting. When he finally scores his dream role in a film directed by the legendary Peter Bogdanovich, we know that his life has reached a profound point of change–though what exactly will that change be? Co-director Matter is an unseen but keenly appreciated presence as he keeps the narrative firmly in check, while simultaneously letting the film explode in any number of unforeseen directions to deliver a frank and fresh testament to the burden of dreams.»
Jamie Hook, Minnesota Film Arts
THE FILM’S OFFICIAL WEBSITE
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Production: soap factory GmbH Basel, dirt road films New York
Written & directed by: Frank Matter, Robert Margolis
Featuring Robert Margolis, Kelli Barnett, Dawn Marie Anderson, Peter Bogdanovich, Jimmy Lee Gary Jr., Tom Gill, Amanda Kay, Frank Krias, Bruce Levy, Dylan Margolis
American Original Version
German/French subtitles, MiniDV/35mm
Worldwide rights: soap factory GmbH & Robert Margolis
Premieres:
Solothurner Filmtage, Switzerland, 2004
Max-Ophüls-Festival, Saarbrucken, Germany, 2004